Content
Brunette cherry is a universal variety that is valued by gardeners for its excellent taste, frost resistance and high yield. In order for a fruit tree to produce a consistently high yield each year, it is necessary to follow the rules of planting and caring for this crop.
Description of cherry Brunette
Brunette Cherry is a small, medium-sized tree with a spreading, spherical, medium-density crown and rounded dark burgundy fruits.
This crop is recommended for cultivation in the Central and Southern regions of Russia.
The common cherry variety Brunette (Prunus Cerasus Bryunetka) was bred at the All-Russian Selection and Technological Institute of Horticulture and Nursery Science as a result of sowing seeds obtained from free pollination of the Zhukovskaya variety. In 1995, the Brunette cherry variety was accepted for state variety testing, and in 2001 it was included in the State Register for the Central Region.
Height and dimensions of an adult tree
The height of an adult tree is about 2-2.5 m (sometimes up to 3 m). The crown of this crop is not very dense, spreading, and has a spherical shape. Cherry foliage is dark green. The leaves are oblong, medium in size, the edges of the plate are serrated. The inflorescences are umbrella-shaped with white flowers and a pleasant, pronounced aroma.
Despite the small size of the tree, the fruits of this crop are quite large in weight and have excellent tasting properties.
Description of fruits
Brunette cherries have:
- rounded slightly flattened shape;
- dark burgundy skin;
- red flesh with a delicate texture;
- an easily detachable small oval-shaped bone;
- pleasant sweet with a slight sour taste.
The average weight of the berries of this crop is 3-4 g. The fruits ripen by the end of July. Due to the fact that this variety is self-pollinating, fruits are formed every year on last year's growths. Universal application.
The fruits of the tree are valued for their tender and juicy pulp.
Cherry pollinators Brunette
Brunette cherry is a self-fertile plant and does not require additional pollinators. However, the presence of other varieties of crops nearby can increase the yield of the tree.
The following varieties are used as pollinators for Brunette cherries:
- Vladimirskaya;
- In memory of Enikeev.
Main characteristics
Brunette cherry is popular due to its excellent characteristics, productivity, drought resistance and frost resistance. However, like any variety, Brunette has its advantages and disadvantages.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
This cherry variety tolerates drought well. It is necessary to water the plant during the following periods:
- ovary formation;
- flowering;
- leaf fall.
Winter hardiness of Brunette cherry is average. Flower buds are sensitive to severe spring frosts.
Productivity
The tree begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after planting. The average yield of one tree per year is about 10-12 kg or 8-9 t/ha (after four years). The indicator depends on the quality of care and climatic conditions.
Brunette cherry is considered a fast-growing crop
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of this variety, Russian gardeners note:
- frost resistance;
- good drought tolerance;
- high productivity;
- average fruit ripening period;
- ripe berries do not fall off, crack or rot.
The disadvantages of this variety include:
- average resistance of flower buds to low temperatures;
- susceptibility to fungal diseases.
Landing rules
Before planting a crop, you need to choose a location and determine the timing. It is also worth considering the rules for planting crops.
Recommended timing
In the southern regions, planting should be carried out in the autumn; in the middle zone, it is most effective to do this in the first half of September. In areas with a harsh climate, it is advisable to plant Brunette cherries in the spring, as there is a high risk of young seedlings freezing.
Site selection and soil preparation
The best place for planting Brunette cherries is considered to be on a not very steep slope. When choosing, you need to take into account the fact that this tree loves a lot of sunlight.
The soil for planting seedlings must meet the following requirements:
- neutral acidity pH = 6.5-7;
- balanced content of sand and clay;
- good air exchange;
- drainage layer.
Preparing the hole for the seedling must begin two weeks before planting:
- size: 40 cm – depth, 60 cm – diameter (the volume of the root system of the seedling should be taken into account);
- soil preparation: mixing with fertilizers;
- placing a peg in the planting hole;
- laying the treated soil in the pit.
To prepare the ideal soil for cherries, you need to mix it with organic compounds (manure, compost) and fertilizers (potassium, phosphate).
If the plant is planned to be planted on acidic soils, it is necessary to prepare the land by adding lime to the substrate
How to plant correctly
Proper planting of cherry seedlings should be done as follows:
- Dig a hole in a previously prepared place.
- Straighten the roots and treat them with garden varnish.
- Place the seedling at the bottom of the hole, simultaneously adding soil (the root collar should be at a distance of 57 cm above the ground level);
- Tie the trunk of the seedling to a stake.
Scheme of proper planting of cherry seedlings
After completing the procedure, it is necessary to water the soil generously (about 3 liters of water), having first created an artificial mound around the seedling.
After watering, it is advisable to mulch the soil of the seedling.
Features of care
Cherry Brunette is easy to care for. However, to maintain high yields and increase the life cycle of the plant, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
This cherry variety tolerates drought well. It is necessary to water the plant during the period of ovary formation, flowering and leaf fall.Approximately 3 liters of water per plant will be enough. In areas with frequent dry weather, additional watering is necessary. It is stopped a month before harvesting, otherwise it may cause rotting and negatively affect the taste of the fruit.
To feed the plant, it is necessary to use fertilizers, which include:
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- nitrogen (cannot be used during planting, only in small quantities in spring).
For intensive growth and development of the Brunette cherry, it is necessary to adhere to the feeding schedule. The first is applied at planting, the next - no earlier than 2-3 years later in two stages:
- at the end of the flowering period;
- two weeks after the first feeding.
It is advisable to use mixtures of urea, potassium chloride and superphosphate as fertilizers. Afterwards, the cherries need to be watered (about 10-15 liters of water per tree).
Trimming
The spreading crown of this medium-sized crop requires regular formation. Branches located below 40-50 cm from ground level must be pruned. This procedure will increase the yield and the life cycle of the crop. First of all, dry and growthless branches are removed.
The formation of the Brunette cherry must be carried out over 2-4 years.
Preparing for winter
Preparing Brunette cherries for winter, like other varieties of this crop, must be done before the first frost. In regions with a mild climate and snowy winters, it is enough to treat the soil with fertilizers and carry out final watering.In regions with harsh climates, the tree should be prepared differently for wintering, which includes:
- sanitary pruning of branches;
- tillage around the trunk (trunk circle);
- watering and mulching the soil;
- whitewashing the trunk;
- pest control.
Cherries should be covered in October.
Diseases and pests
Common cherry Brunette is resistant to most diseases. However, if not properly cared for, this variety is susceptible to fungal and bacterial diseases.
Anthracnose – a fungal disease, the development of which is favored by increased importance (more than 90%). The skin of the fruit becomes covered with small bumps with a pinkish coating, which dry out when warm weather sets in.
Treatment with fungicides and removal of affected tree fruits helps in the fight against the disease.
Gommosis, or gum bleeding, manifested by the leakage of gum (sticky substance) from the tree trunk and branches. It occurs as a side effect of diseases or poor quality crop care.
In case of gommosis, the trunk and branches of the tree are treated with copper sulfate and garden pitch, and the damaged branches are cut off
Hole spot, or klyasterosporiosis, occurs when the conditions for growing a crop (temperature, humidity) are violated. If signs of the disease are detected, the crop must be treated with Bordeaux mixture and the affected areas removed.
A fungal disease affects the leaves and fruits of the tree - brown spots and holes appear
The following pests pose the greatest danger to Brunette cherries:
- cherry aphid;
- cherry weevil (larvae and adult insects);
- slimy sawfly (larvae);
- caterpillars of shoot moth.
Conclusion
Brunette cherry is a universal and fairly unpretentious variety of fruit crop. It will produce high yields for many years. To do this, it is necessary to follow the rules of planting seedlings, caring for trees and carry out agrotechnical measures in a timely manner.
Reviews
Anna Pavlova, 47 years old, Kaluga
